Wednesday, December 04, 2019

Christmas present idea: Haynes Shed Manual


You can currently save £6 off the rrp off the Haynes Shed Manual which I co-wrote with secrets-of-shedbuilding guru John Coupe. Described in the Centre for Alternative Technology's Christmas catalogue as "for the enthusiastic DIY-er and those considering taking on a project" and by, er, The Sunday Sport as "A thing of beauty". For details, click here. --------------------------------------
Wednesday’s posts are sponsored by Norwegian Log Buildings  - Log cabins and garden buildings for a better quality of life. Click here for more details.

Tuesday, December 03, 2019

Garden offices with a lot of glass


Opinions differ about how much window is best in a garden office, but in the end it comes down to your own personal judgement. If you do like plenty of glass in the build, then take a look at some of the models offered by Nordic Garden Buildings. Above is the PVC-u Manhattan (other models are even more windowier), the one pictured coming in at 5.32 sqm though other sizes are also available. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday posts are sponsored by Garden Spaces, suppliers of contemporary garden buildings, offices, gyms and studios, many of which do not require planning

Monday, December 02, 2019

Small garden office




Continuing our look at small garden offices, here's Garden2office's smallest ever Kapsel model, newly installed but still with decent leaf coverage! It's a drum practice room fitted with a double layer of acoustic plasterboard, sound matt and resilient bars, plus an inner solid door and Octagon acoustic glass.  -------------------------------------------------
Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

Sunday, December 01, 2019

Shedvent


If you're feeling a bit bereft by the end after 11 years and 264 art installations of the Beyond Beach Hut Advent Calendar in Brighton and Hove, do not fear. Into the breach has stepped the church of St Thomas and St Nicholas, Bedhampton, Portsmouth. Their Shedvent celebrations centre on a special Advent shed which the local primary school, uniformed groups, WI, and other local groups will be decorating every day with a new approach to an old Christmas carol. The shed opens every day at 5pm until 6.30pm

And once again writer Joanne Harris is putting on her own Shedvent fun on Twitter. Follow the links below:


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Sunday posts are sponsored by eDEN Garden Rooms. Stunning, bespoke high quality garden rooms, to suit your unique space and style

Saturday, November 30, 2019

Artichoke-shaped garden office


A remarkable build from Studio Ben Allen, an octagonal garden office in London inspired by the 18th century Dunmore Pineapple folly in Scotland. We especially like the green shingles covering the exterior. More images and details at dezeen. Photo and video below by Ben Tynegate.


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Saturday posts are sponsored by woowoo waterless toilets, the best toilet for your garden office

Friday, November 29, 2019

2020 garden trends


In this guest post by Oeco Garden Rooms, the garden office specialists advise on trends that are expected to be big in 2020 including creating designated garden areas, the resurgence of high-quality garden furniture and planting native flowers to attract wildlife.

Garden trends have changed drastically over the past decade as people change the way they use their gardens and look to become eco-friendlier at the same time. Creating a practical space which is easy to maintain and comfortable to use can be a daunting task, but with a little planning and preparation, you can create an up-to-date and modern garden which will add that wow factor to your property.

Creating designated garden areas
The ultimate goal when planning any garden is to create a flexible space which has the right combination between plants, flowers and foliage, and inviting spaces in which to relax, unwind and entertain in. Designating specific areas of the garden is a great way of creating comfortable areas to entertain in as well as space for the family to play and have fun. Establishing boundaries between different areas can be achieved by planting simple borders, installing a patio or decking area, or building a fence to create secluded areas for reading, relaxing and even al fresco dining.

Investing in high-quality garden furniture
If there is one place to invest in the garden, then it is in your garden furniture. Cheap garden furniture will weather and fade a lot faster than high-quality products, and with the majority of us cutting down on waste and being more economical with our money there has been a resurgence of people investing in high quality and handmade garden furniture that is designed to last.

Rattan furniture is one of the top choices when it comes to high-quality garden furniture and with good reason. Rattan is strong and durable, able to withstand the changing seasons and is available in a number of different colours and styles to suit any garden. Rattan furniture is also ideal for casual seating areas and alfresco dining.

Another popular choice for garden furniture is solid wood furniture; these will generally need a little bit of maintenance to keep them looking new, but in turn, will last for many years. Wooden furniture makes a style statement in the garden and creates a sense of luxury and extravagance, but be sure to buy sustainably sourced or reclaimed wooden furniture for peace of mind.

Planting native flowers, plants and shrubs
There has been a big shift in the types of flowers, plants and shrubs gardeners’ plant in their gardens. In years gone by people planted flowers, shrubs and borders to create colourful collages without much thought to the environment or local wildlife.

That has all changed over the past few years as gardeners continue to make a conscious effort to use native plants and local resources to create gardens that closely mimic the nature around them. Perennials such as the Pasque flower and Bellflower create pops of colour, while Primrose blooms with pale yellow flowers in the Spring. Wildflowers such as Corncockle, Pyramidal orchid and Harebells add a natural touch while creating an ecosystem for local wildlife to live and thrive.
A trend in organic gardening will become popular over the next few years too as gardeners learn about the benefits of ‘going organic’. From healthier soil, stronger and bigger plants and greener lawns, to robust ecosystems of minibeasts, birds and other wildlife, organic gardening is at the forefront of reversing the damage done by decades of chemical and pesticide use.

There are other ways of attracting local wildlife to your garden too, including adding a birdbath or pond, leaving a small area of your garden to overgrow for shelter and food, and by planting pollinator-friendly flowers.
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Friday posts are sponsored by Warwick Buildings, manufacturers of outstanding quality timber buildings. Click here for more information.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Keeping your garden office warm


Though decent insulation should keep most garden offices at a decent temperature inside in colder months, sometimes people do want a boost. Here's one possibility from MeacoHeat Motion Heaters - they have a motion detection sensor which means the unit is only activated once a person walks into the garden office, which in turn makes it a more economical way to heat a space. When people leave the room, the heater switches off.

The heaters use safe PTC ceramic technology which provides a fast start-up time. A thermal cut out and tilt safety switch ensures that if they are accidentally knocked over, they switch off. The smaller model, 1.8kW has two outputs levels to save energy, a 1-7 hour off timer and a fan only mode for summer use, should you really want that. The larger 2.0Kw adds what the makers describe as "oscillation to distribute the heat evenly through a 70° arc". A three-level thermostat replaces the off timer to provide another level of control. There are two models, available in either red, black or white. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday posts are sponsored by Cabin Master: garden offices and studios to fit any size garden. Top quality contemporary or traditional buildings.